Recruiting by private schools...

[lhssoccerfan]

For many years now, there have been undertones, if not overtly stated disillusion, with the disposition of recruiting, or the right to recruit, of private schools throughout the state. A simple statement of a very complex issue.

1. Most private schools have higher standards of academic performance for acceptance into the system. That is a good thing. What I'm wondering is if there are some instances where those standards are compromised to allow the student to be picked up up as an outstanding athlete in a particular sport, in this case soccer. If that is the case, should there be some contingency where LHSAA would have access to the standards and review student performance to ensure that the standards are being abided by?

2. What are the protocols for eligibility when a student transfers into a private school system. At the secondary level, should these time frames be extended to ensure that parents are sending their kids to the school purely for academic quality assurance. Does LHSAA actively check on whether or not the protocols are being adhered to?

3. Are scholarships being awarded solely based on athletic prowess, or is academic performance the only criteria...that's a big one that I'm interested in getting feedback on...and should academic performance be the only criteria?

Footnote: Let's not forget that it is relatively easy to accomplish transferring a public school student from one school to another, at least in Lafayette Parish, by saying that he/she is domiciled at "grandma's house," which just happens to be in the same district where there is a great soccer team. So the public schools have loopholes too...Should they be revised or at least reviewed and followed up on to ensure that the student is actually living where they say they are. Not a massive logistical undertaking...

[soccerguy7]

as long as there r rules there will be loop holes unless the system goes door 2 door and checks houses. and that can still be done around. scholarships can be given 4 grades which would allow a kid 2 play for free. plus i go 2 a mpsa school becuz my school is too small 2 play with the bigger private schools. so i didnt have 2 sit out. so if i transferred back 2 public school, it would be like me moving back so i wouldnt sit out either.

[rocksccrstar]

I don't think that private schools recruit so much for soccer, maybe for football, but I know at our school all athletes are held to a higher standard than LHSAA rules for grades.

[flat3]

wlfrocksccrstar said:

I don't think that private schools recruit so much for soccer, maybe for football....

I agree. I hate to say that soccer is just not important for school administrators in LA, like football or basketball. The same issue came up on this board, I think the last year....

Look at Baton Rouge High's homepage, for example, brmhs.ebrschools.org/. While their soccer program has been pretty good for some time, it is NOT even listed under "Sports." They have cross-country, valleyball, swimming, wresting, and track listed in that site (they don't have baseball, basketball, or football in their school)!

At University High, they "recruit" basketball players. So do Christian Life. I know of other schools which recruit football and baseball players in Baton Rouge.

I, however, don't know of any schools in Baton Rouge area which recruits soccer players. Maybe in Laffy or NOLA, I don't know. It just hasn't happened in BTR.

[xingsoccer18]

All i know is that i went to a public school last year, and i switched to a private school this year, and i have to sit out a whole intire year off any sports because i switched. Now im sure there are ways to get around this, but i think with the rules now its almost too much trouble to recruite players

[415]

In Baton Rouge I know it is possible to "appeal" your ineligibility. I've only know one person (switched from public to public) who did it but it is possible. Might be a connections thing. A lot of the ineligiblity also has to do with where you live inrelation to the school because we have a new player this year who switched from private to private and I think because of where she lived she did not have to sit out a year.

[rocksccrstar]

The LHSAA handbook has several rules concerning home schools and transferring and where you went to jr high in relation to where you go to HS.

I know that in the BR Catholic system there is a rule concerning kids that live in the Woodlawn school district, not real clear but apparently if they don't go to Bishop (they choose one of the three other schools) and they live in the Woodlawn school district they are ineligible. Also another rule about kids who did not attend a catholic school for junior high having to live in the home school district. It is all very confusing.

As far as appeals go, the only transfers I have ever heard of getting to play immediately are seniors who have transferred for their senior year.

My take is that students and their parents, in terms of soccer, decide where they want to go. Recruiting is just not that big of a deal.

[xingsoccer18]

Whenever you actualy move to a schools area and your home adress changes to that schools area you are eligibal to play at that school. Thus, switching from Public to Public is ok because to go to a Public school you must be in that schools area to go to it anyway. But when you go to a private school you dont nessisarily have to be in that schools area to go to it. I live in Raceland, and i went to Central Lafourche last year. I go to EDW now witch is in thibodaux. I kept my same adress and stayed living in raceland. So i have to sit out a season. If i moved to Thibodaux, were EDW is, I would have been eligable because I would have moved to that schools area. Theres so many bi-laws and fine print to all the rules, its ridiculas.

[GhostRider88]

I woulda bet you atleast half of hte kids in school like Jesuit or Brother Martin go there just to play soccer.

[Hooligan]

GhostRider88:

I'll take that bet.........